Adventure with us into a remote canyon that few ever see. Lavender Canyon is indeed a jewel of Canyonlands National Park, bursting with archaeological sites, giant stone arches, and stunning beauty in every direction. From red- and orange-striped sandstone to yellow honeycomb facets and dark purple mesas and towers, the scenery here is truly picturesque.

Trip Details

DURATION: 9 hours

Our journey begins just south of Moab on Highway 191, leading us toward the Needles District entrance near Church Rock. We’ll pass one of Utah’s first and still-operational ranches before entering the park and the canyon itself.

We follow a meandering arroyo across the desert landscape, experiencing the very solitude that inspired rancher-turned-author David Lavender to write so eloquently about the American West:

"The world is awake—except the canyon, its bottom still lost in fathomless black. Slowly the sun climbs higher. Deep down the purple shadows stir and swirl. Light breaks through the blackness, tinting the walls." — David Lavender

Keep your eyes on the canyon walls, as many arches and archaeological sites can be viewed right from the road. 

Among the abundant arches we'll discover are Caterpillar, Handhold, Teapot, and the enormous Cleft Arch. We’ll take in one of these masterpieces over a delicious buffet-style picnic lunch included with your trip. Because Lavender Canyon is undeveloped and deliberately left in a primitive state, this remote wilderness trip is a spectacular, all-day National Park experience.